Top Songs of 1981
1 |
92 |
The Specials |
Ghost Town |
2 Tone
|
2 |
178 |
Soft Cell |
Tainted Love |
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
3 |
224 |
The Human League |
Don't You Want Me |
Synthpop
|
4 |
415 |
Queen & David Bowie |
Under Pressure |
Pop Rock
|
5 |
436 |
Laurie Anderson |
O Superman |
Art Pop,
Experimental,
Post-Minimalism,
Progressive Electronic |
6 |
493 |
Joan Jett and The Blackhearts |
I Love Rock 'n Roll |
Hard Rock
|
7 |
549 |
Phil Collins |
In the Air Tonight |
Ambient Pop,
Art Pop,
Pop Rock
|
8 |
780 |
Tom Tom Club |
Genius of Love |
New Wave,
Synth Funk
|
9 |
792 |
Rick James |
Super Freak |
Synth Funk
|
10 |
919 |
The Rolling Stones |
Start Me Up |
Hard Rock
|
11 |
951 |
Journey |
Don't Stop Believin' |
AOR,
Pop Rock
|
12 |
955 |
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five |
The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel |
Disco Rap,
East Coast Hip Hop,
Instrumental Hip Hop,
Turntablism |
13 |
1131 |
Black Flag |
Rise Above |
Hardcore Punk
|
14 |
1143 |
Go-Go's |
Our Lips Are Sealed |
New Wave,
Pop Rock
|
15 |
1153 |
Depeche Mode |
Just Can't Get Enough |
Synthpop
|
16 |
1221 |
The Psychedelic Furs |
Pretty in Pink |
New Wave,
Post-Punk
|
17 |
1255 |
Grace Jones |
Pull Up to the Bumper |
Dance-Pop,
Synth Funk
|
18 |
1310 |
New Order |
Ceremony |
Post-Punk
|
19 |
1347 |
Mission of Burma |
That's When I Reach for My Revolver |
Post-Punk
|
20 |
1422 |
Daryl Hall & John Oates |
I Can't Go for That (No Can Do) |
Pop Rock,
Pop Soul
|
21 |
1537 |
Yoko Ono |
Walking on Thin Ice |
Dance-Punk,
New Wave
|
22 |
1543 |
Kim Carnes |
Bette Davis Eyes |
Pop
|
23 |
1624 |
Taana Gardner |
Heartbeat |
Boogie
|
24 |
1654 |
Stevie Nicks |
Edge of Seventeen (Just Like the White Winged Dove) |
Pop Rock
|
25 |
1713 |
Rush |
Tom Sawyer |
Progressive Rock
|
26 |
1721 |
The Stranglers |
Golden Brown |
Baroque Pop,
New Wave
|
27 |
1808 |
Kraftwerk |
Computer Liebe/Computer Love |
Synthpop
|
28 |
1852 |
Heaven 17 |
(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang |
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
29 |
1905 |
Bob Dylan |
Every Grain of Sand |
Christian Rock,
Singer/Songwriter,
Soft Rock
|
30 |
1907 |
Duran Duran |
Girls on Film |
New Romantic,
Synthpop
|
31 |
2026 |
Prince |
Controversy |
Synth Funk
|
32 |
2114 |
Luther Vandross |
Never Too Much |
Pop Soul,
Smooth Soul
|
33 |
2152 |
Japan |
Ghosts |
Ambient Pop,
Art Pop,
Progressive Pop
|
34 |
2251 |
Men at Work |
Down Under |
Pop Reggae,
Pop Rock
|
35 |
2483 |
The Human League |
Love Action (I Believe in Love) |
New Romantic,
Synthpop
|
36 |
2494 |
Go-Go's |
We Got the Beat |
New Wave,
Power Pop
|
37 |
2747 |
Squeeze |
Tempted |
Pop Rock
|
38 |
2792 |
AC/DC |
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) |
Hard Rock
|
39 |
2958 |
The Gun Club |
Sex Beat |
Punk Blues
|
40 |
3050 |
Kraftwerk |
Nummern/Numbers |
Electro
|
41 |
3061 |
Scritti Politti |
The Sweetest Girl |
Art Pop,
New Wave
|
42 |
3099 |
Minor Threat |
Straight Edge |
Hardcore Punk
|
43 |
3205 |
ESG |
Moody |
Dance-Punk
|
44 |
3311 |
U2 |
Gloria |
Post-Punk
|
45 |
3396 |
The Police |
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic |
New Wave,
Pop Rock
|
46 |
3422 |
The Rolling Stones |
Waiting on a Friend |
Pop Rock
|
47 |
3567 |
Adam and The Ants |
Stand and Deliver |
New Romantic
|
48 |
3575 |
Pigbag |
Papa's Got a Brand New Pigbag |
Dance-Punk
|
49 |
3746 |
The J. Geils Band |
Centerfold |
Pop Rock
|
50 |
3842 |
Gang of Four |
To Hell with Poverty! |
Dance-Punk
|
51 |
3884 |
Flipper |
Sex Bomb |
Noise Rock,
Post-Punk
|
52 |
4125 |
Madness |
It Must Be Love |
2 Tone,
Pop
|
53 |
4145 |
Toni Basil |
Mickey |
Bubblegum
|
54 |
4189 |
Smokey Robinson |
Being with You |
Contemporary R&B,
Pop Soul,
Smooth Soul
|
55 |
4308 |
Romeo Void |
Never Say Never |
New Wave
|
56 |
4387 |
Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers |
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around |
Pop Rock
|
57 |
4532 |
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft |
Der Mussolini |
EBM,
Neue Deutsche Welle,
Synth Punk
|
58 |
4555 |
Black Flag |
TV Party |
Hardcore Punk
|
59 |
4560 |
Paolo Conte |
Via con me |
Jazz Pop
|
60 |
4588 |
Stray Cats |
Stray Cat Strut |
Rockabilly
|
61 |
4591 |
The Birthday Party |
Release the Bats |
Gothic Rock,
Noise Rock
|
62 |
4754 |
Tom Tom Club |
Wordy Rappinghood |
Disco Rap,
New Wave
|
63 |
4803 |
Rosanne Cash |
Seven Year Ache |
Country Pop,
Singer/Songwriter
|
64 |
4852 |
The Cramps |
Goo Goo Muck |
Psychobilly
|
65 |
4869 |
Loverboy |
Working for the Weekend |
AOR,
Pop Rock
|
66 |
4930 |
The Plimsouls |
A Million Miles Away |
Power Pop
|
67 |
5103 |
Stray Cats |
Rock This Town |
Rockabilly
|
68 |
5156 |
Soft Cell |
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye |
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
69 |
5383 |
Earth, Wind & Fire |
Let's Groove |
Disco,
Synth Funk
|
70 |
5386 |
The Reels |
Quasimodo's Dream |
Synthpop
|
71 |
5388 |
Kraftwerk |
Taschenrechner / Pocket Calculator |
Synthpop
|
72 |
5464 |
Dinosaur L |
#5 (Go Bang!) |
Disco
|
73 |
5480 |
Pretenders |
Message of Love |
New Wave,
Pop Rock
|
74 |
5551 |
ESG |
UFO |
Dance-Punk
|
75 |
5599 |
Foreigner |
Waiting for a Girl Like You |
AOR,
Soft Rock
|
76 |
5607 |
Kim Wilde |
Kids in America |
New Wave,
Pop Rock
|
77 |
5661 |
Men at Work |
Who Can It Be Now? |
New Wave,
Pop Rock
|
78 |
5713 |
Altered Images |
Happy Birthday |
New Wave,
Pop
|
79 |
5779 |
Grace Jones |
I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango) |
Art Pop,
Dub,
Sophisti-Pop
|
80 |
5790 |
The Clash |
This Is Radio Clash |
Dance-Punk,
Funk,
Funk Rock
|
81 |
5862 |
Kraftwerk |
Computerwelt / Computer World |
Synthpop
|
82 |
5869 |
Duran Duran |
Planet Earth |
New Romantic,
Synthpop
|
83 |
5953 |
Fela |
Coffin for Head of State, Pt. 2 |
Afrobeat
|
84 |
6139 |
Teena Marie |
Square Biz |
Boogie,
Funk,
Pop Soul
|
85 |
6155 |
The Police |
Invisible Sun |
New Wave,
Pop Rock
|
86 |
6218 |
Daryl Hall & John Oates |
Private Eyes |
Pop Rock
|
87 |
6271 |
The Who |
You Better You Bet |
Pop Rock
|
88 |
6293 |
The Cure |
Charlotte Sometimes |
Gothic Rock,
Post-Punk
|
89 |
6298 |
The Passions [UK] |
I'm in Love with a German Film Star |
New Wave
|
90 |
6422 |
Foreigner |
Urgent |
AOR,
Pop Rock
|
91 |
6426 |
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers |
The Waiting |
Heartland Rock,
Roots Rock
|
92 |
6430 |
Pete Shelley |
Homosapien |
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
93 |
6451 |
Grace Jones |
Nightclubbing |
Art Pop,
Dub
|
94 |
6485 |
Rick James |
Give It to Me Baby |
Disco,
Synth Funk
|
95 |
6491 |
Spandau Ballet |
Chant No. 1 (I Don't Need This Pressure On) |
New Romantic
|
96 |
6494 |
Dead Kennedys |
Too Drunk to Fuck |
Hardcore Punk
|
97 |
6631 |
The Cars |
Shake It Up |
New Wave
|
98 |
6669 |
Rod Stewart |
Young Turks |
New Wave,
Pop Rock
|
99 |
6811 |
ABC |
Tears Are Not Enough |
New Romantic
|
100 |
6840 |
Was (Not Was) |
Out Come the Freaks |
Disco
|
101 |
6927 |
Billy Idol and Gen X |
Dancing with Myself |
New Wave,
Power Pop
|
102 |
7067 |
Charlélie Couture |
Comme un avion sans ailes |
French Pop
|
103 |
7224 |
Depeche Mode |
New Life |
Synthpop
|
104 |
7232 |
Haircut 100 |
Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) |
New Wave
|
105 |
7362 |
Brian Eno - David Byrne |
America Is Waiting |
Art Punk,
Art Rock,
Experimental Rock
|
106 |
7410 |
Chagrin d'amour |
Chacun fait (c'qui lui plaît) |
Disco Rap,
French Hip Hop,
French Pop,
Pop Rap |
107 |
7490 |
Mötley Crüe |
Live Wire |
Glam Metal,
Heavy Metal
|
108 |
7492 |
New Order |
Everything's Gone Green |
Post-Punk,
Synthpop
|
109 |
7515 |
Van Halen |
Unchained |
Hard Rock
|
110 |
7603 |
The Police |
Spirits in the Material World |
New Wave,
Pop Rock
|
111 |
7858 |
The Pointer Sisters |
Slow Hand |
Pop Soul
|
112 |
8026 |
George Harrison |
All Those Years Ago |
Pop Rock,
Singer/Songwriter
|
113 |
8036 |
Kool & The Gang |
Get Down on It |
Disco,
Funk
|
114 |
8098 |
Olivia Newton-John |
Physical |
Pop Rock
|
115 |
8210 |
Slime |
Deutschland |
Deutschpunk
|
116 |
8230 |
Siouxsie and The Banshees |
Spellbound |
Gothic Rock,
Post-Punk
|
117 |
8420 |
Foreigner |
Juke Box Hero |
AOR,
Hard Rock
|
118 |
8431 |
Christopher Cross |
Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do) |
Film Soundtrack,
Soft Rock,
Yacht Rock
|
119 |
8467 |
UB40 |
One in Ten |
Pop Reggae
|
120 |
8468 |
Def Leppard |
Bringin' On the Heartbreak |
Hard Rock
|
121 |
8539 |
Iron Maiden |
Wrathchild |
NWOBHM
|
122 |
8554 |
Altered Images |
I Could Be Happy |
New Wave,
Twee Pop
|
123 |
8607 |
Department S |
Is Vic There? |
New Wave,
Post-Punk
|
124 |
8621 |
ESG |
You're No Good |
Dance-Punk
|
125 |
8772 |
D Train |
You're the One for Me |
Boogie,
Synth Funk
|
126 |
8991 |
The Cure |
Primary |
Gothic Rock,
Post-Punk
|
127 |
9060 |
Roxy Music |
Jealous Guy |
Adult Contemporary,
Soft Rock
|
128 |
9163 |
Elvis Costello and The Attractions |
Psycho |
Country,
Country Rock
|
129 |
9208 |
The Cure |
All Cats Are Grey |
Gothic Rock,
Post-Punk
|
130 |
9278 |
Sunnyboys |
Alone With You |
Jangle Pop,
Power Pop
|
131 |
9308 |
Fela |
Original Sufferhead |
Afrobeat
|
132 |
9375 |
Minor Threat |
Minor Threat |
Hardcore Punk
|
133 |
9532 |
Junior Giscombe |
Mama Used to Say |
Boogie,
Contemporary R&B
|
134 |
9571 |
Bauhaus |
Kick in the Eye |
Gothic Rock,
Post-Punk
|
135 |
9618 |
Genesis |
Abacab |
Pop Rock,
Progressive Pop
|
136 |
9830 |
Leño |
Maneras de vivir |
Boogie Rock,
Hard Rock,
Rock urbano español
|
137 |
9958 |
Pretenders |
I Go to Sleep |
Pop Rock
|
Songs "bubbling under" the all-time top 10,000: |
|
|
Odyssey |
Going Back to My Roots |
Disco
|
|
|
Gil Scott-Heron |
"B" Movie |
Funk,
Spoken Word
|
|
|
Minor Threat |
In My Eyes |
Hardcore Punk
|
|
|
The Gun Club |
Fire of Love |
Post-Punk,
Punk Blues
|
|
|
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark |
Joan of Arc |
Art Pop,
Synthpop
|
|
|
Rick Springfield |
Jessie's Girl |
Power Pop
|
|
|
A Number of Names |
Sharevari |
Electro,
Electro-Disco
|
|
|
Billy Squier |
The Stroke |
Hard Rock
|
|
|
Mecano |
Hoy no me puedo levantar |
New Romantic,
Synthpop
|
|
|
Motörhead / Girlschool |
Please Don't Touch |
Hard Rock,
Heavy Metal
|
|
|
Rita Marley |
One Draw |
Reggae
|
|
|
Afrika Bambaataa & The Jazzy 5 |
Jazzy Sensation (Bronx Version) |
Disco Rap,
East Coast Hip Hop
|
|
|
Stan Rogers |
Northwest Passage |
Canadian Maritime Folk
|
|
|
Ozzy Osbourne |
Diary of a Madman |
Heavy Metal,
Progressive Metal
|
|
|
The Clark Sisters |
You Brought the Sunshine |
Disco,
Gospel
|
|
|
Einstürzende Neubauten |
Kollaps |
Industrial,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Public Image Ltd. |
Flowers of Romance |
Experimental Rock,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Pata Negra |
Los mánagers |
Andalusian Rock,
Flamenco Nuevo
|
|
|
Simple Minds |
Theme for Great Cities |
New Wave,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Riot |
Swords and Tequila |
Heavy Metal
|
|
|
Rush |
Limelight |
Progressive Rock
|
|
|
Clock DVA |
4 Hours |
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Bob Dylan |
The Groom's Still Waiting at the Altar |
Pop Rock,
Singer/Songwriter
|
|
|
Vasco Rossi |
Siamo solo noi |
Pop Rock
|
|
|
Sheena Easton |
For Your Eyes Only |
Adult Contemporary,
Film Soundtrack
|
|
|
Les Civils |
La crise |
Soft Rock,
Synthpop
|
|
|
Lionel Richie and Diana Ross |
Endless Love |
Adult Contemporary,
Film Soundtrack
|
|
|
Ozzy Osbourne |
Flying High Again |
Hard Rock,
Heavy Metal
|
|
|
Kate Bush |
Sat in Your Lap |
Art Pop
|
|
|
Vangelis |
Chariots of Fire |
Film Score,
Progressive Electronic
|
|
|
Journey |
Who's Crying Now |
AOR,
Soft Rock
|
|
|
Siouxsie and The Banshees |
Arabian Knights |
Gothic Rock,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Bush Tetras |
You Can't Be Funky |
Dance-Punk,
No Wave
|
|
|
Eric Clapton |
I Can't Stand It |
Blues Rock
|
|
|
Quincy Jones |
Ai No Corrida |
Disco
|
|
|
The Associates |
Kitchen Person |
Experimental Rock,
Gothic Rock,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Altered Images |
Dead Pop Stars |
Post-Punk
|
|
|
The Rolling Stones |
Worried About You |
Rock
|
|
|
Boys Town Gang |
Cruisin' the Streets |
Disco
|
|
|
Swingers |
Counting the Beat |
New Wave,
Power Pop
|
|
|
Throbbing Gristle |
Discipline |
Industrial
|
|
|
Wipers |
Youth of America |
Noise Rock,
Post-Hardcore,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five |
It's Nasty (Genius of Love) |
Disco Rap,
East Coast Hip Hop
|
|
|
Roberto Torres y su Charanga Vallenata |
Caballo Viejo |
Salsa,
Son Cubano
|
|
|
Bauhaus |
The Passion of Lovers |
Gothic Rock,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Louis Chédid |
Ainsi Soit-il |
Chanson
|
|
|
The Names |
Night Shift |
Post-Punk
|
|
|
The Fire Engines |
Candyskin |
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Camarón de la Isla |
Como el agua |
Flamenco Nuevo
|
|
|
The Lounge Lizards |
Harlem Nocturne |
Avant-Garde Jazz,
No Wave,
Post-Bop
|
|
|
Black Uhuru |
Sponji Reggae |
Roots Reggae
|
|
|
Black Flag |
Police Story |
Hardcore Punk
|
|
|
The Moody Blues |
The Voice |
Pop Rock
|
|
|
Discharge |
Why? |
D-Beat
|
|
|
Z.Z. Hill |
Down Home Blues |
Blues
|
|
|
Bill Wyman |
(Si Si) Je suis un Rock Star |
Dance-Pop,
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
|
|
Red Rider |
Lunatic Fringe |
AOR,
Hard Rock
|
|
|
Grauzone |
Eisbär |
Neue Deutsche Welle,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
The Teardrop Explodes |
Tiny Children |
Neo-Psychedelia,
New Wave
|
|
|
The Mighty Diamonds |
Pass the Kouchie |
Roots Reggae
|
|
|
Strikers |
Body Music |
Boogie
|
|
|
The Clean |
Tally Ho! |
Dunedin Sound,
Indie Pop
|
|
|
Imagination |
Body Talk |
Contemporary R&B,
Pop Soul,
Smooth Soul
|
|
|
Blue Öyster Cult |
Burnin' for You |
AOR,
Hard Rock
|
|
|
Spandau Ballet |
Glow |
New Romantic
|
|
|
Alice |
Per Elisa |
Italo Pop,
New Wave
|
|
|
Divinyls |
Boys in Town |
New Wave,
Pub Rock
|
|
|
Eurythmics |
Never Gonna Cry Again |
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
|
|
Triumph |
Magic Power |
AOR,
Hard Rock
|
|
|
Lindsey Buckingham |
Trouble |
Soft Rock
|
|
|
Inner Life |
Ain't No Mountain High Enough |
Disco
|
|
|
Bobby Womack |
If You Think You're Lonely Now |
Soul
|
|
|
The Birthday Party |
Nick the Stripper |
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Soft Cell |
Memorabilia |
Synthpop
|
|
|
Carl Carlton |
She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked) |
Boogie,
Contemporary R&B,
Synth Funk
|
|
|
Flipper |
Brainwash |
Noise Rock,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Television Personalities |
This Angry Silence |
Indie Pop,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Brian Eno - David Byrne |
The Jezebel Spirit |
Art Rock,
Experimental Rock
|
|
|
Journey |
Open Arms |
AOR,
Adult Contemporary,
Soft Rock
|
|
|
Vivien Goldman |
Launderette |
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Elvis Costello |
Good Year for the Roses |
Country Pop
|
|
|
Triumph |
Fight the Good Fight |
Hard Rock
|
|
|
Change |
Paradise |
Disco
|
|
|
Anti-Nowhere League |
So What |
Oi!
|
|
|
The Gun Club |
Preaching the Blues |
Psychobilly,
Punk Blues
|
|
|
Sammy Hagar |
There's Only One Way to Rock |
Hard Rock
|
|
|
China Crisis |
African and White |
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
|
|
Echo and the Bunnymen |
Over the Wall |
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Heaven 17 |
Penthouse and Pavement |
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
|
|
Soft Cell |
Bedsitter |
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
|
|
Linx |
Intuition |
Dance-Pop,
Pop Soul
|
|
|
Defunkt |
The Razor's Edge |
Jazz-Funk
|
|
|
Comateens |
Late Night City |
New Wave,
Pop Rock,
Synthpop
|
|
|
New Order |
Procession |
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Hervé Cristiani |
Il est libre Max |
French Pop
|
|
|
The Church |
The Unguarded Moment |
Jangle Pop,
Power Pop
|
|
|
The Blasters |
Marie Marie |
Rockabilly
|
|
|
Icehouse |
Can't Help Myself |
New Wave,
Pop Rock
|
|
|
Simple Minds |
Love Song |
New Wave,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Japan |
Visions of China |
Art Pop,
New Wave
|
|
|
Dead Kennedys |
Nazi Punks Fuck Off! |
Hardcore Punk
|
|
|
Kim Wilde |
Cambodia |
Synthpop
|
|
|
Rainbow |
I Surrender |
AOR,
Hard Rock,
Pop Rock
|
|
|
Hamilton Bohannon |
Let's Start II Dance Again |
Disco,
Funk
|
|
|
J. Walter Negro and the Loose Jointz |
Shoot the Pump |
Disco,
Disco Rap,
Funk
|
|
|
The Human League |
The Sound of the Crowd |
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
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Depeche Mode |
Dreaming of Me |
Synthpop
|
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Echo and the Bunnymen |
A Promise |
Post-Punk
|
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Thomas Dolby |
Europa and the Pirate Twins |
New Wave,
Synthpop
|
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Madness |
Cardiac Arrest |
2 Tone,
New Wave,
Pop
|
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Rush |
Red Barchetta |
Progressive Rock
|
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The Creatures |
Mad Eyed Screamer |
Experimental Rock,
Post-Punk
|
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Tears for Fears |
Suffer the Children |
Synthpop
|
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|
Thomas Leer |
Tight As a Drum |
Minimal Synth,
Synthpop
|
|
|
The Teardrop Explodes |
Passionate Friend |
Neo-Psychedelia,
New Wave,
Post-Punk
|
|
|
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers |
A Woman in Love (It's Not Me) |
Heartland Rock
|
|
|
Kirsty MacColl |
There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis |
Country Pop,
Rock & Roll
|
|
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The Jam |
Absolute Beginners |
Mod Revival,
Psychedelic Pop
|
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|
Rush |
YYZ |
Progressive Rock
|
|
|
Fun Boy Three |
The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum |
Art Pop,
New Wave
|
|
|
Eloy |
Point of No Return |
Progressive Rock,
Space Rock
|
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